NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The Land of Enchantment is home to countless museums covering a wide variety of topics, from art to aliens and from telephones to turquoise. Whichever topic you may be interested in learning more about, the state’s museum system has it covered. KRQE asked viewers via social media which museum in New Mexico was their favorite.
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KRQE viewers voted on the Tinkertown Museum in Sandia Park as their favorite New Mexico museum. The museum started out as a travelling exhibit of miniature wood carvings, visiting carnivals and county fairs in the 1960s and 70s. Today, the collection is on display in a 22-room museum formed out of over 50,000 glass bottles, wagon wheels, old-fashioned store fronts, and other unique memorabilia. Tinkertown is operational from April 4 through November 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for kids aged 4 to 16 (kids under 4 are free).
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science in Albuquerque came in second place in the poll. The museum features a number of permanent exhibits, including Time Tracks: A Walk Through Time and The Hall of the Stars. There are also some temporary exhibits, as well as a planetarium and the world’s first 2D/3D digital 4K dual projection system. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but will be temporarily closed for renovations starting August 4. Adults (18-59) are $8, seniors (60+) are $7, youth (13-17) are $7, children (3-12) are $5, and tots (2 and under) are free. Tickets may also be bundled with Verus Research Theater or planetarium shows.
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Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum of Albuquerque and the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe tied for third. Explora offers over 250 interactive exhibits and activities for the whole family, exploring art, math, engineering, technology, and science. Explora is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and tickets are free for Explora members and children under 1, $7 for children 1-11, $11 for adults 12-64, and $8 for seniors 65+ and students or military with ID. The museum has a campus of three interlocking buildings, currently exhibiting subjects like Zozobra, reflections on history, and diners of New Mexico. The New Mexico History Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and tickets are $7 for New Mexico residents and $12 for nonresidents.
Other popular museums include the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Wheels Museum, Salmon Ruins Museum, Telephone Museum of New Mexico, Roswell Museum & Art Center, International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop, El Rancho de las Golondrinas, Museum of International Folk Art, The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Trinity Site, and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
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Tinkertown Museum | Sandia Park |
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science | Albuquerque |
Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum of Albuquerque | Albuquerque |
New Mexico History Museum | Santa Fe |
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum | Las Cruces |
Wheels Museum | Albuquerque |
Salmon Ruins Museum | Lee Acres |
Telephone Museum of New Mexico | Albuquerque |
Roswell Museum & Art Center | Roswell |
International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop | Roswell |
El Rancho de las Golondrinas | Santa Fe |
Museum of International Folk Art | Santa Fe |
The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art | Roswell |
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture | Santa Fe |
Vietnam Veterans Memorial | Angel Fire |
Trinity Site | Socorro County |
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum | Santa Fe |
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